TO LORD

SDT Circuit Unveils
Maple Theatres Trio
DETROIT—On a site selected five years
ago on the basis of its growth potential
and its strategic location for neighborhood
services, the Maple theatres 1-2-3 bowed
March 23 as the newest addition to Suburban
Detroit Theatres, prominent circuit
of motion picture theatres.
Located adjacent to the Bloomfield Shopping
Plaza, on West Maple Road at its intersection
with Telegraph Road, the Maple
is a trio of intimate auditoriums planned
to accommodate a variety of major firstrun
film attractions as a complete movie
entertainment service for the many residential
communities within a few miles of
the site.
The theatre is described by its builders
as "contemporary," designed to convey a
warm and restful atmosphere for the exhibition
of motion pictures with the latest
sound and projection equipment available.
It incorporates an extensive use of brick
complemented by bright colors which form
the graphic theme of the theatre, each of
the three auditoriums being color-keyed
through graphics and directional lighting.
The seating, spaced at optimum distance
between rows, is by American Seating Co.
of Grand Rapids, Mich.
For patrons' convenience, there are illuminated
parking areas provided on two
sides of the theatre with access from West
Maple Road. The entry to the theatre is
protected from the weather by a covered
walkway which joins the triplex to a branch
office of Michigan National Bank.
The Maple 3 was developed by E. Sloan
Co., with design and interiors by T. Rogvoy
Associates and built by J.S. Vig Construction
Co.
Opening attractions were "The Domino
Principle," starring Gene Hackman, Candice
Bergen, Richard Widmark and Mickey
Rooney, at Maple 1; "Logan's Run," which
features now-famous pin-up girl Farrah
Fawcett-Majors, at Maple 2, and the Academy
Award-nominated film "Cousin Cousine"
at Maple 3.
Eddie Johnsons Retiring
In Port Charlotte, Fla.
BAY CITY, MICH. — E. C. "Eddie"
Johnson and his wife Thelma, recipients of
a "Beloved Citizens Award" from the Bay
City Chamber of Commerce, have bowed
out of show business here to live in Port
Charlotte, Fla. Johnson has owned six Bay
City, three Saginaw and two Flint theatres
since moving here in 1938. Thelma for 30
years has been involved in an amateur dramatic
career (on stage and off stage) with
the Bay City Players.
To mark their departure from the world
of theatre in Bay City, "everyone" honored
the couple at an open house in the Players'
Theatre Saturday night, March 12.
Thelma became a part of live theatre locally
when she started working with the
Bay City Players during World War II.
Since that time, she has been a performer
and a director and has done various types
of off-stage work. Among other posts, she
has served as president of the theatre's
board of directors.
Johnson, according to Times staffer Gay
McGee, "traces his love of the theatre back
to a first ushering job at age 14 ... He
purchased his first theatre when he was just
two years out of high school. Shirley Temple
and Will Rogers were the two principal
stars who 'really drew them in' when he
opened his first boxoffice in New Buffalo,
Mich."
Locally, he has owned (at various times)
the Colonial, the Washington, the City, the
Woodside and the Tivoli theatres. And he
was president of Allied Theatres of Michigan
during the 1950-51 term.
"Movies have come a long way from the
likes of the Will Rogers and Shirley Temple
favorites," Johnson reminisced. "Maybe
too far—but I like to think that we may
have passed on through the shock phase to
another kind of drama."
Johnson has sold his Westown Theatre
and the Court Theatre in Saginaw to his
nephew John, who has been training under
the Bay City theatreman.
What plans have been made for retirement?
They've acquired a house in Florida
(with a canal flowing past on two sides)
and they look forward to gardening and
golf. And, guess what, Thelma already has
made contacts with a little theatre group
in Port Charlotte, so there will still be show
business in
their life!
20th-Fox Considering Ky.
For Location Filming
(Continued from page ME-2)
Kentucky locations for a large percentage
of this film," Clark-Todd disclosed.
Scouting the locations were producer
Harvey Bernhard, director Michael Hodge,
art director Fred Hapman and production
manager Lee Rafner.
Clark-Todd said they looked at several
horse farms, public buildings, businesses
and university buildings in Lexington, manufacturing
plants in Louisville, the Capitol,
the governor's mansion and the Capital
Plaza Tower in Frankfort.
"Bernhard was very pleased with what
they saw in Kentucky and all the members
of the 20th Century-Fox group were very
gratified by the cooperation shown them
by Gov. Carroll and the Kentucky Film
Commission," Clark-Todd commented.
Kentucky Locations
For Pan American 3
LEXINGTON, KY. — Editing is nearly
completed on "The Thoroughbreds." a feature-length
motion picture produced by Pan
American Films in the Lexington area in
October and November 1976. Starring Vera
Miles. Stuart Whitman, Sam Groom and
Teddy Wilson, the film was produced by
Mario Crespo. president of Pan American
Films. Crespo tentatively is planning to
premiere the feature in Louisville during the
Kentucky Derby Festival period.
Pan American currently is considering
Kentucky locations for two more pictures,
according to Tom Clark-Todd, director of
Kentucky Film Commission. The com
the
pany, which has offices in Lexington and
Mexico City, has purchased the rights to a
biography of Raphael Trujillo written by
Victor A. Pena Revera.
According to Crespo, "The biography oj
Trujillo, flamboyant president and dictatoi
of the Dominican Republic during the '30s
'40s and '50s, is the first to name names
dates, places and events and document then
with evidence supplied by one who wa
involved. The author of the biography wa
the chief of military intelligence services i
the north region of the Dominican Reput
lie during the Trujillo reign." The biograph;
which currently is available only in a Spar
ish language text, is a best seller throughot
the Spanish-speaking world.
Pan American plans to shoot some
the mountain footage and urban scenes
Kentucky and the remainder of the fi
will be photographed on actual locations
the Dominican Republic. The screenpl;
is now being written and "no definite da)
has been set as to when filming will star)
Crespo said.
Crespo also is involved in preproductii
arrangements for second feature film e
titled "The Long Way Home." He hopes!
make this G-rated film entirely in Ke
tucky, specifically the southeastern porti'i
of the state. "The Long Way Home" s
slated for production sometime after 1:
completion of the Trujillo biography.
In addition to its motion picture entprises,
Pan American Productions, a sisr
company to Pan American Films, receriy
announced the acquisition of a franche
from the Barbizon School of Fashion f
New York and will be opening the Barbisn
School of Louisville soon. The school ill
offer classes in modeling, acting, fasbn
merchandising and interior design
J
should be operational in late April, Cre
stated.
CINERAMA IS IN
SHOW BUSINESS IN
HAWAII TOO.
When you come to Waikiki,
don't miss the famous
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BOXOFFICE :: April 11, |